Tie rack



Dec. 31, 19.57 w. P. cRocKET'r, JR

TiE RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8; 1954 ,De- 31, 19,57 8 w. P. cRocKET-r, JR 2,818,181

TIE RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.v 8, 1954 Dec. 3,1, 1957 w. P. cRocKE-rT, .JR

TIE RACK zlsnets-sheet s FIIEQEB Filed Nov. 8, 1954 FUE- 1|] United States Patent TIE RACK William P. Crockett, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Setwell Company, a ycorporation of Illinois Application November 8, 1954, Serial No. 467,439

11 Claims. (Cl. 211-96) This invention relates to improvements in tie racks.

The invention is directed particularly to a type of tie rack in which the ties are hung from separate arms for purposes of display and selection, but in which the spacing between the arms may be shifted to permit removal of a selected tie, from its arm or supporting member.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tie rack of the type indicated in which the supporting arms are disposed diagonally so that the ties may be displayed in overlapping relationship for purposes of selection.

According to the present invention, the separate arms are pivotally mounted and means are provided to swing 'them individually from one extreme position to another `so that as each arm is swung through a position perpendicular to the frame, its motion can be arrested to permit removal of a tie.

Another object is to provide an improved tie rack construction in which the arms are spaced closely to each other, the spacing being of an order of a quarter of an inch, thus permitting a rack of an increased tie carrying capacity. For instance, a rack having an overall dimension of about fourteen inches can accommodate fty tiesupporting arms. As indicated above, the spacing shift, which permits removal of a selected tie, is occasioned by a swinging movement of the arm, rather than by a translational movement of the arm.

A .further object is to provide an improved tie rack construction in which the arms may be rapidly shifted, one after the other, by mechanical actuating means, such as a slide.

Still another object is to provide in a tie rack construction of the type indicated, interlocking means whereby `all of the arms are locked against swinging movement, except .for the particular arm which is then -being shifted.

A still further object is to provide a tie rack structure embodying improved means for mounting the actuating member for free sliding movement.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

With reference now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts:

Fig. -l is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts in changed positions;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. l0 is an enlarged perspective view of the cam; and

Fig. ll is a perspective view of one of the arms.

With reference now to Figs. l-5,. the reference nu- 2,8l8,l8l Patented Dec. 31, 1957 meral 15 designates generally a frame vwhich comprises upper and rlower 'horizontal members 1 6, and 'end'm'embers 17, the latter being secured to the 'former by means of crimpedtongues 18, shown in lFig.`3.

The horizontal members l136 may be in the form'ofshe'et metal-bent or rolled 'to prov'idea-special shape. Asshown in Fig. 5, the shape-of Athe horizontal members provides horizontal flanges 19 which are provided withcircular openings 20, the two shapes `thus providing opposed anges having alined openings '20 whichreceive the alinedjp'ivots 2l of swinging tie-supportingarms 22.

The horizontal members 16 'also .provide oppositely disposed channels 23 in which a yframe 24 i's slid'ably mounted, as shown in Fig. 4. The frame Ais provided'with rollers 25 which are received within the channels '23 to provide a vlow 'friction sliding connection. An actuating member in the form of'a slide 26 "is.slidab1y .mounted within the `frame 24, and includes 'a handle 27 which is secured to a plate 28. lUpwardly and downwardly facing channels 29 are also mounted 'on the plate 28 as shown in Fig. 5, and each channel receives the inner .parts of the rollers 25 to 'the vend that the slide 26 .is provided with a low friction sliding Vconnection with respect to the frame 24.

Thus, a sliding connection is provided 'between thetslide 26 and the horizontal members 16, the frame l'24 serving merely as an idler since it is the slide 26 which is moved back and forth manually. This construction avoids the cocking or binding tendency which arises when the slide 26 is mounted directly 4in the channels 23 of the horizontal members `i6. According t'o this construction the trame 24 is of a length approximately half the length of the horizontal `members 1'6, and it moves at one-half the velocity of the slide 26.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the frame 24 includes `horizontal members 40 which are in 'the form of channels, the anges of which are provided with separate slots 41, one for each of the rollers 25. Thus, the rollers may be mounted in the horizontal members 40 without the use of any shaft or pivot. The frame '24 also includes vertical end members 40'.

Also secured to the plate 28 of the slide 26 is a -eam 30, shown in Figs. 5 and 10. The cam is in the form of a U-shaped member providing a lower lobe 31 and an upper lobe 32.

The arms 22 are all identical, and as shown in Fig. 11, each arm comprises a tie-holding lforwardly extended portion 35 which terminates in a suitable .hook 42. Toward the base of the arm 22, a lower follower 36 extends to the left (looking down) of the plane of the arm for `cooperation with the lower lobe 31 of cam 30. An upper follower 37 extends to the right of the plane of the arm and cooperates with the upper lobe 32. In other Words, the followers are vertically offset from each other in the same manner as the lobes 31 and 32.

Disposed at an elevation midway between the upper and lower followers is a sector-*shaped interlocking lug having a portion 38 extending to the left, and a portion 39 extending to the right of .the plane of the arm 22.

Fig. 11 indicates the manner in which the arm 22 and its various parts may be stamped from a single sheet of metal.

In describing the cooperation of the cam 30 and the various parts of the arm 22, reference is rst vmade to Fig. 9, which shows the cooperation cf just the lower lobe 31 with the lower follower 36. It will be seen that the arms 22 are movable between an extreme left position and an extreme right position. When in the eXtreme left position, yas shown in Fig. 9, the lower follower 36 of the arm 22b extends into the path of the lower lobe 31. Movement of the slide 26 in the direction of the arrow .a will cause rotation of the arm 2211, about its pivots 21, from the extreme left position to the extreme right position.

With reference now to Figs. 8, 7 and 6, taken in that order, the overlying parts are also shown. As the slide is moved in the direction ofthe arrow, arm 2211 will be swung from its extreme left position in Fig. 8 to the 90 position of Fig. 7. In this position, the upper follower 37 swings around the undercut end of the lobe 32, which is the trailing end when the slide is being moved in the direction of the arrow. This end is undercut as indicated by the reference numeral 33 to permit the desired action.

In this 90 position of the a-rm 22h, the motion of the slide 26 can be arrested, and the tie removed from the portion 35. Continued movement of the slide 26 will cause the arm 22b to move into its extreme right position, shown in Fig. 6.

That end of each of the lobes which is opposite to the undercut end 33 is extended, as indicated by the reference numeral 34, and this extended portion serves two functions. As the slide is moved in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig. S, the extended portion 34 of the upper lobe 32 engages the upper follower and tends to straighten it out so that the right interlocking lug 39 of arm 22a will not bind on the left interlocking lug 38 of the arm 22b. This occurs prior to engagement of the lower follower 36 of the arm 22h with the lower lobe 3l with the result that the arm 22h will be free to swing.

The extended portion 34 of the lower cam 31, when the slide is moved in the direction of the arrow, maintains the previously moved arm 22e in its extreme right position, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, so that the left interlocking lug 38 of arm 22C will not bind on the right interlocking lug 39 of arm 22b, as the latter is swung to the right. In other words, the extended portion 34 locks the arm 22C in its extreme right position to provide the proper clearance for the arm 2lb.

Fig. 9 shows the manner in which the interlocking lugs 3S and 39 of adjacent arms cooperate with each other to lock the arms against movement after the slide has passed. With respect to arm 22d, it will be seen that its left interlocking lug 38 engages the right interlocking lug 39 of arm 22C with the result that 22d cannot be swung to the left, out of its extreme right position. Thus, Viewing Fig. 2, all arms to the right of arm 23C are locked in the position shown, and all arms to the left of arm 22b are locked in the extreme left position in which they are shown.

As pointed out above, the arms immediately adjacent 4to the particular arm which is being moved are maintained in locked position by the extended portions 34 of the lobes 3l and 32 in order that proper clearance may be maintained to permit free movement of that particular arm.

To summarize the operation which has been described in detail in connection with the description of the various parts, it will be observed that the tie rack may be secured to a wall by means of suitable fastening means passing through the apertures 43 in the feet 44 of the end members 17. Suicient clearance is provided for free movement of the slide 26 and frame 24 which are disposed at the rear of the horizontal members 16.

Since the arms 22 are disposed either in an extreme left position or extreme right position, all of the ties are displayed in overlapping relationship to facilitate selection of a particular tie. To remove that tie, the handle 27 is grasped and is moved, with a free sliding movement, up to the arm which holds that particular tie. ri`he arrangement described permits a continuous sliding movement, even though it involves a shifting of each arm 22 from one extreme position to the other. When the desired arm is reached, the motion of the slide can be arrested so that that particular arm will be presented to the operator in its 90, or perpendicular position. In this position, there is plenty of space to permit the tie to be removed from the arm.

When the arms are in their extreme or diagonal positions, however, there is not snrcient space to permit easy manipulation of the tie incident to its removal. In other words, the present invention provides a means by which the arms may be mounted so close together as to prevent removal, when in diagonal position, while at the same time permitting such shifting in the position of the arms as will permit easy removal of that tie which has been selected.

The parts a-re symmetrically arranged so as to provide operation in either direction. For instance, inspection of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, taken in that order, illustrate the operation when the slide 2.6 is moved in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrow. In this case it is the upper lobe 32 which drives the arm 22h, and the extended portion 34 of the lower lobe 31 that straightens out the arm 22C.

Although only a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown and described herein, it will be understood that various modiiications and changes can be made in the construction shown without departing from the spirit of my invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A tie rack comprising a frame, a plurality of tie supporting members, means for pivotally mounting said tie supporting members in said frame for swinging movement, means for normally maintaining said tie supporting members in parallel inclined positions either to the left or to the right of a perpendicular position, manually actuated slide means slidably mounted in said frame for bodily sliding movement past each of said tie supporting members one after the other for releasing said last named means and for successively swinging said tie supporting members through said perpendicular position.

2. A tie rack comprising a frame, a series of tie holding arms pivoted in said frame for movement between right and left extreme positions and having rearwardly extending portions, a slide, means for slidably mounting said slide in said frame for bodily sliding movement past each of said pivoted arms one after the other, said slide having a portion projecting toward said pivoted arms for engagement with said rearwardly extending portions of said arms whereby movement of said slide will cause said slide portion to engage successively said arms to swing them successively from one extreme position to the other.

3. A tie rack as claimed in claim 2 in which said slide mounting means comprises a second frame slidably mounted in said first mentioned frame, said slide being mounted within said second frame, and rollers positioned in slots in said second frame for rotation about axes which are transverse relative to said second frame, said rollers running in oppositely disposed channels in both said slide and said first frame whereby displacement of said slide with respect to said rst frame will cause displacement of said second frame to a lesser extent.

4. A tie rack comprising a first frame, a series of tie holding arms pivoted in said frame for movement between right and left extreme positions a second frame slidably mounted in said first frame, a slide slidably mounted for movement in both of said frames and having cam means projecting toward said pivoted arms, said arms each being provided with a follower projecting into the path of said cam means whereby continuous movement of said slide will cause said cam means to engage successively said followers so that said arms will be successively swung from one extreme position to the other.

5. A tie rack comprising a frame, a series of tie holding arms pivoted in said frame for movement between right and left extreme positions, a slide, means for slidably mounting said slide in said frame for bodily sliding movement past each of said pivoted arms one after the other, said slide having cam means projecting toward said pivoted arms, said arms each being provided with two followers which extend outwardly from the plane of said arm in such a manner that when said arms are disposed in one extreme position, one of said followers is disposed in the path of said cam means when said slide is moved in one direction, and when said arms are disposed in the other extreme position, the other follower extends into the path of said cam means when said slide is moved in an opposite direction, whereby continuous movement of said slide in either direction will cause said arms to be successively moved from one of said extreme positions to the other.

6. A tie rack as claimed in claim 5 in which sai-d followers are vertically offset from each other, and in which said cam means comprise two separate cams vertically offset from each other, each being in alignment with its respective follower.

7. A tie rack comprising a frame, a series of tie holding arms, each arm being provided with aligned pivots received within said frame to permit movement between right and left extreme positions, a slide, means for slidably mounting said slide in said frame for bodily sliding movement past each of said pivoted arms one after the other, said slide having cam means projecting toward said pivoted arms, said arms each being provided with two followers which extend outwardly from the two sides of said arm and rearwardly of said pivot in such a manner that when said arms are disposed in one extreme position, one of said followers is disposed in the path of said cam means when it is moving in one direction, and when said arms are disposed in the other extreme position, the other follower extends into the path of said cam when it is moving in an opposite direction, whereby continuous movement of said slide member in either direction will cause said arms to be successively moved from one of said extreme positions to the other.

8. A tie rack comprising a frame, a series of tie holding arms pivoted in said frame for movement between right and left extreme positions, and interlocking lugs formed on each arm and extending from both sides of said arm in such a manner that when any two adjacent arms are disposed parallel to each other in one extreme position, the interlocking lug of one will extend into the path of the interlocking lug of the other so as to block movement of said other arm whereby when a series of adjacent arms are disposed in one of said extreme positions, only the last arm of the series will be free for movement and the others will be locked against movement into the other of said extreme positions.

9. A tie rack as claimed in claim 8 in which said interlocking lugs are provided with a substantially cylindrical surface, with respect to the axis of rotation of their associated arms, so that the locking relationship is maintained throughout a substantial degree of movement by the blocking arm away from a given extreme position.

10. A tie rack comprising a frame, a series of tie holding arms pivoted in said frame for movement between right and left extreme positions, said arms each being provided with interlocking lugs extending from both sides of said arm in such a manner that when any two adjacent arms are disposed parallel to each other in one extreme position, the interlocking lug of one will extend into the path of the interlocking lug of the other so as to block movement of said other arm, and means mounted on said frame to cause movement of the blocking arm so as to free the blocked arm for subsequent movement.

11. A tie rack comprising a frame, a series of tie holding arms pivoted in said frame for movement between right and left extreme positions, said arms each being provided with rearwardly extending followers an=d with interlocking lugs extending from both sides of said arm in such a manner that when any two adjacent arms are disposed parallel to each other in one extreme position, the interlocking lug of one will extend into the path of the interlocking lug of the other so as to block movement of said other arm, a second frame slidably mounted in said rst mentioned frame, a slide slidably mounted in both of said frames, and means carried by said slide for successively engaging said followers to swing said arms from one extreme position to the other, the parts being arranged so that continuous movement of said slide in one direction Will cause movement of the blocking arm so as to free the blocked arm for movement when next engaged by said slide.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,156 Humphrey Nov. 17, 1936 2,162,919 McAuliffe et al June 20, 1939 2,459,331 Linenthal Jan. 18, 1949 2,473,029 Kovacs June 14, 1949 2,515,293 Carter July 18, 1950 2,588,110 Halliday Mar. 4, 1952 

